Re: semantics of ?=

[Gabor Greif <address@hidden>]

P T Withington wrote:
> 
> On Sunday, Sep 15, 2002, at 20:00 US/Eastern, Bruce Hoult wrote:
> 
> > I believe that use of ?=it in awhile() should refer to a variable of
> > that name in the textual environment in which awhile is mentioned.

?=it in awhile() does not refer to any variable. It establishes a new binding
of a value to a captureable name. The scope of that name does not extend to the outside of the "awhile ... end". So it cannot do any harm outside just like every other "let" introduced binding.

  Gabor

> 
> I.e., as if awhile were expanded without hygiene for 'it', just like C
> would do.
> 
> I was not party to the #dylan conversation, so perhaps I am missing
> something; but I agree with Bruce.